Sports & Outdoors
Gasparilla Island Water Association sets annual meeting and nominates officers
January 2, 2026
The Gasparilla Island Water Association, or GIWA’s, Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Stewardship of drinking water remains a high priority for the Associatio…
Bear Hunting Zones results released for Florida season harvest
January 2, 2026
After FWC staff presented options on highly regulated black bear hunting and the public provided their comments at the August and November 2025 Commission meetings, FWC Commissioners approved final…
Waif turtle sites funding offered by state
January 2, 2026
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section is now offering habitat management assistance funding opportunities for the 2025-2026 fiscal year…
Lightning whelk in Florida history talk
January 2, 2026
Dr. Michelle Calhoun, Archaeologist, will be discussing “The Role of the Lightning Whelk in Florida History” on Monday, Jan. 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Manasota Beach Club, 7660 Manasota Key Ro…
Corkscrew Swamp will open new Discovery Center in February
January 2, 2026
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Spurlino Foundation Discovery Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road. The…
Calusa Blueway speaker series begins on Tuesday, Jan. 6
January 2, 2026
Kayaking the Everglades is the first talk in a series of free Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail-related programs set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Roa…
EcoWatch: Make 2026 a New Year of kept promises and action
January 2, 2026
A resolution starts with a goal, A promise made within your soul, To grow, to learn, to start each day, To let old habits fall away. It’s not perfection that we seek, But steady steps, week by week…
SW Florida Fishing: Adventures around every turn…
January 2, 2026
BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR
Fishing in and out of the boat recently has brought us to meet some new friends. Sometimes the fish we catch are only part of the story. The Dalai Lama defines sentient being…
One more of 21 on Banyan Street removed after storm damage
January 2, 2026
Banyan Street lost another banyan tree this week. Crews were out Monday removing a tree in the middle of the block, on the south side of the street.
“DOT had to subcontract the removal of the tr…
Getting prepped for Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic
January 2, 2026
The Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic opens on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
The annual all-island tournament will be held at the Boca Bay Pass Club, The Gasparilla Inn Tennis Club and th…